The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-08-12
miscellaneous.
PRAGG'S BOARDER.


visit the rcxt day after they came SO that
she didn't count just then, and all the in.
terest, or rather the curiosity, Of the other
| boarders centred in the gentleman, whom
they Continued to call "the new bOarder,"-
even after they learned that his name was
Simpson Ills wife was gone three or four
weeks, and during all that time nobody in
the boarding house found out anything about
him. lie WAS pleasant-looking middle.
| aged gentleman, with very dignfied manners
and a military bearing. He bowed with
grave dignity whenever he met any one else
in the halls he sometimes smiled and nodded
pleasantly and haZarded word or two about
the weather with one or another of the hall
dozen ladies and gentlemen who break tasted
as early as he did, aud frequently did the same
at dinner with those who sat at his own table;
but for the most part he divided his attention
at the table between his newspaper and Lis
plate. When the ladies in whose hearts he
had awakened an interest asked Mrs. Pragg
what she knew about him all they could learn
was that he was in some kind of q business,
she had forgotten what that he and his wife
had not been married very long, and that
they had come TO her very highly recon-
mended. All the other boarders had been in
the house long time, and those ladies who
had nothing in particular to do they were
the only ones interested in such matters-had
found out, in one way or another, oil that was
worth knowing about everybody in the house
except the new boarder. He remained in
scrutable, and they were thoroughly convinc-
ell that there must be something well worth
finding out behind all that taciturnity. "He
had something to hide, you may depend on
it," was the general verdict.
Even Mrs. Coke, who occupied the room
next his, could add nothing to the small stock
of knowledge about the new boarder. At
least she could not until one eventful even
ing. Her room was hall bed room and had
door connecting it with the large room oc
cupied by Mr.. Simpson. This door was
closed of course, and on Mrs. Coxe's side
some drapery transformed the doorway into
an extempore wardrobe for some articles of
apparel when she was startled by voices in
the next room. The new boarder was plain
ly talking to some one. She listened closely
and the words were as plain as could be,
while the tones well, the tones were very
beseeching that was sure.
kiss me, old GIRL" that was what he was
saying, "kiss me nice, won't you Come now,
let's be sociablc. You won't ? o, now do,
that's darling. Come just once"
And then lie walked off to the other side
ofthe room and she heard no more. "Isuppose
his wife's come home" she said to herself
He seems very affeciionate, az / should think
he would be from his appearance, more so
than she is. It's queer that she wouldn't kiss
him when she's been gone away so long. /
wonder if they don't get along well. Poor
thing hope she isa't having trouble al
ready"
But what was Mrs. Coxe's surprise the
next day to discover that Mrs. Simpson had
not returned. She talked the matter over
with the half dozen ladies who were interest
ed in the mystery of the new boarder, and
they unanimously decided that the affair
needed investigation. They questioned Mrs.
Coke over and over again about what she
had heard, and, finally, one of them asked if
she hadn't been able to distinguish anything
that sounded like name.
eyes," said Mrs. Coke, thoughtfully, "now
you make me think of 1t, did hear some in
distinct murmurs after he walked away from
the door, but didn't think anything about
it at the time, for supposed ii was a sort of
ve.making with his wife. You know they
haven't been married very long But now I
recall it, there was something like name,
and it neutrality-suspicious. goodness, ladiesw
And the look of horror that suddenly over
spread Mrs. Coxe's features, to say nothing
of the glimmer of triumph in her eyes, made
the other ladies press eagerly about her and
settled into severe and mournful monotone
as she asked: "Did-did any one of you
happen to call at Miss Paully's room last
EVENING""
Yes, Miss Norman had knocked twice at
Miss Paullay's door to borrow book
which Miss Faulty had offered to loan
her, but had not found her at home.
81 thought not" replied Mrs. Coke, in
tone of grim and melancholy conviction.
"What do you mean ?" "Was it her
name?" "Do tell us' "You surely don't
think it possible!" "Just think of itp
chorused the ladies', oil in breath.
II don't say anything, and l don't accuse
anybody, but as surely as live 1t was her
name that heard last night. 1t rings in my
ears this minute as plain as the trump of
DOOM"
"The sanctimonious minx~
$50 that was what she moved into that
back room forW
"There are doors right though into his
room, though l should think Mrs. Pragg
would have known enough to keep the keys
herself"
Ihave wondered all along how she could
afford that ROOM"
1.-THE horrd creature And just to think
how she's always pretending TO be 80 care
fulp
"And always afraid somebody will think
she's done something out of the wayp
"It's as much as you can expect from such
precise mink as she is, the sly thingp
They all decided that the affair must be
probed TO the bottom at once, and they con-
stituted themselves into sort of vigilance
committee, with the mutual understanding
that they were not actuated by any mere vul
gar curiosity. For the sake of poor Mrs.
Pragg, who hadn't the spirit to say her house
was her own, for the sake of their own repu-
tations, which would certainly be compro-
missed by living in house In which there
were such goiugs on, and especially for the
sake of the poor, dear young wife who was
being so dreadfully misused, their consciences,
they agreed, wouldn't let them rest O
minute. They must get to the bottom of it
at once, and expose that vile creature in the
back room and that horrid wretch in the